Homemade Honey Mustard Recipe

Name: Homemade Honey Mustard
Prep time: 15 min
Total time: 2895 min
Ingredients: 4 tablespoons (45g) whole yellow mustard seeds; 1 1/2 tablespoons (18g) whole brown mustard seeds; 2 teaspoons (8g) whole black peppercorns; 6 ounces water; 4 ounces apple cider vinegar; 1 tablespoon packed dark brown sugar; 3 tablespoons honey; 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder; 1/2 teaspoon onion powder; 2 teaspoons salt

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A honey mustard good enough to eat with a spoon? Yeah, that’s what this is.

The unique mustard ingredients in this recipe all function for flavor, with brown sugar providing a richness, apple cider vinegar for tartness, and black peppercorns for added warmth. And just enough honey to sweeten a dip for chicken wings, a vinaigrette, or a glaze for baked salmon.

What is Honey Mustard?

Most honey mustards use the milder yellow mustard seeds to temper the pungent nature of mustard, and then sweeten it up with honey. All of which makes it the “Kid’s Table” of mustards. Instead, we use a small amount of brown mustard seeds to sharpen the flavor, as well as black peppercorns to round out the taste with some mild heat.

Spooning honey mustard sauce out of a glass jar. — Alison Bickel

Keys to Success

The acidity of the vinegar and texture from the honey and blending ensure this mustard is unique in flavor and smooth to the taste. Here are a few tips to make the best honey mustard sauce:

Refrigerate the mustard seeds while they soak in the water. Some recipes call for soaking the seeds at room temperature, but they will develop a funky smell. And not the good, Bootsy Collins kind of funk, either.
Vinegar minimizes the pungency of the mustard therefore we soak the mustard seeds in water. But the vinegar does help maintain the pungent flavor for a longer period of time.
Use a blender (countertop or immersion) instead of a food processor, as the mustard seeds won’t break down well enough in the food processor. Here is a guide to everything you need to know about high speed blenders and our top immersion blender picks if you’re in the market for one.
Be careful not to mix the mustard for more than 30 seconds at a time. Some blenders don’t have an automatic shut-off, and the motor can be overworked if blending a mixture of this consistency for too long.

Honey Mustard Swaps and Substitutions

As it’s not a strictly traditional recipe, honey mustard gives us some room to find those flavors and textures which appeal to us personally, yet still make it recognizable to others. Here are a few swaps and substitutions you can try:

Replace the honey with maple syrup, although it will form a looser consistency.
Swap the black peppercorns with 1 teaspoon of whole allspice berries for a deeper flavor with less spicy warmth.
Use only yellow mustard seeds for a less intense mustard.

Homemade honey mustard served on a platter of chicken wings. — Alison Bickel

How to Store Homemade Honey Mustard

You can let the honey mustard sit at room temperature for a couple hours if you prefer a more pungent flavor. Beyond that, keep the mustard in the refrigerator and it will last for six (6) months.

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Homemade Honey Mustard

Prep Time 15 mins

Soaking and Chilling Time 48 hrs

Total Time 48 hrs 15 mins

Servings 16 servings

Yield 2 cups mustard

4 tablespoons (45g) whole yellow mustard seeds
1 1/2 tablespoons (18g) whole brown mustard seeds
2 teaspoons (8g) whole black peppercorns
6 ounces water
4 ounces apple cider vinegar
1 tablespoon packed dark brown sugar
3 tablespoons honey
1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
1/2 teaspoon onion powder
2 teaspoons salt

Soak and refrigerate mustard seeds and peppercorns:

In a small plastic container or glass bowl, soak the yellow and brown mustard seeds and black peppercorns in the water.

Cover and set in the refrigerator for 12-24 hours. The mustard seeds and peppercorns will slightly soften and break down easier while blending.

Alison Bickel
Strain the mustard seeds and peppercorns:

Using a sieve, strain the mustard seeds and peppercorns, and discard the water. The liquid will be too bitter to use.

Alison Bickel
Blend the mustard seeds:

Place the strained mustard seeds and peppercorns in a blender. Add apple cider vinegar, brown sugar, honey, garlic powder, onion powder, and salt. Blend at a low setting for 15 seconds, then slowly increase to a high setting and blend for 10 seconds.

Scrape down the sides of the blender. The consistency of the mustard will have thickened significantly.

Blend at a low setting for 15 seconds, slowly increasing to a high setting and blend for 15 to 20 seconds. The consistency will begin to resemble that of a thick mayonnaise.

If you prefer a smoother texture, blend for another 15 to 20 seconds at a medium to high setting.

Alison Bickel

Alison Bickel

Alison Bickel
Chilling and storing the mustard:

Transfer the mustard to a glass jar or plastic container and cover and refrigerate for 24 hours before using. The mustard has some bitterness after blending, and still needs time for the bitterness to lessen. Once it’s ready the mustard can be stored in the refrigerator for up to 6 months.

Alison Bickel

Nutrition Facts (per serving)
38	Calories
1g	Fat
6g	Carbs
1g	Protein

Nutrition Facts
Servings: 16
Amount per serving
Calories	38
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 1g	2%
Saturated Fat 0g	0%
Cholesterol 0mg	0%
Sodium 266mg	12%
Total Carbohydrate 6g	2%
Dietary Fiber 1g	2%
Total Sugars 4g
Protein 1g
Vitamin C 0mg	2%
Calcium 15mg	1%
Iron 0mg	3%
Potassium 46mg	1%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.

Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate. In cases where multiple ingredient alternatives are given, the first listed is calculated for nutrition. Garnishes and optional ingredients are not included.